Snap together header and cell side assembly

Abstract

A filter assembly including a filter frame with filter media disposed therein and a border flange arranged to engage the edge of the filter frame, the border frame being clamped to the frame by a deformable resilient clamp which is inserted between the filter frame and the flange.

I claim 
     
       1. A unit filter assembly comprising: a peripheral filter frame having upstream and downstream peripheral edges defining open upstream and downstream faces, respectively, to permit fluid flow therethrough;   a filter media disposed within the filter frame transverse the direction of fluid flow between the open upstream and downstream faces of the peripheral filter frame;   a first border flange attached to the upstream edge of the peripheral filter frame, the first border flange having a generally U-shaped transverse cross-section defined by a base leg portion and a pair of opposed inner and outer leg portions extending therefrom, the base leg portion extending therefrom, the base leg portion extending outwardly of the upstream peripheral edge of the peripheral filter frame with the outer leg portion extending in spaced substantially parallel relationship to the side wall of the filter frame, the inner leg portion of the first border flange having a terminal filter media retaining portion extending normal therefrom and in abutment with the periphery of the filter media at the open upstream face of the filter frame to restrain the filter media in the filter frame; and,   first clamping means comprising a base leg integrally formed with and projecting obliquely outwardly from the upstream edge of the filter frame at an acute angle to the side wall of the filter frame; and, an outer leg projecting obliquely from the projecting end of the base leg at an obtuse angle to the base leg and extending in a direction generally back over the side wall of the filter frame, the first clamping means being wedged into the U-shaped motor flange of the opening between the inner and outer leg portions thereof such that the surface of the inner leg portion interior to the U-shaped cross-section of the first border flange is in parallel abutment with the side wall of the peripheral filter frame adjacent the upstream edge of the filter frame and the free end of the outer leg of the first clamping means is in tight abutment with the outer leg of the first border flange to maintain the first border flange in tight fixed position on the filter frame.   
     
     
       2. The unit filter device of claim 1 wherein: the acute angle formed between the side wall of the filter frame and the base leg of the first clamping means is approximately 80°; and,   the obtuse angle formed between the base leg of the first clamping means and the outer leg of the first clamping means is approximately 106°.   
     
     
       3. The unit filter assembly of claim 1 further comprising: a second border flange attached to the downstream peripheral edge of the peripheral filter frame, the second border flange also having a generally U-shaped transverse cross-section defined by a base leg portion and a pair of opposed inner and outer leg portions extending therefrom, the base leg portion extending outwardly of the downstream peripheral edge of the peripheral filter frame with the outer leg portion extending in spaced substantially parallel relationship to the side wall of the filter frame, the inner leg portion of the second border flange having a terminal filter media retaining portion extending normal therefrom and in abutment with the periphery of the filter media at the open downstream face of the filter frame to restrain the filter media in the filter frame; and,   second clamping means comprising a base leg integrally formed with and projecting obliquely outwardly from the downstream edge of the filter frame at an acute angle to the side wall of the filter frame; and, an outer leg portion projecting obliquely from the projecting end of the base leg at an obtuse angle to the base leg and extending in a direction generally back over the side wall of the filter frame, the second clamping means being wedged into the U-shaped border flange between the opening between the inner and outer leg portions thereof such that the surface of the inner leg portion interior to the U-shaped cross-section of the second border flange is in parallel abutment with the side wall of the peripheral filter frame adjacent the downstream edge of the filter frame and the free end of the outer leg of the second clamping means is in tight abutment with the outer leg of the second border flange to maintain the second border flange in tight fixed position on the filter frame.   
     
     
       4. The unit filter device of claim 3 wherein: (a) the acute angle formed between the side wall of the filter frame and the base leg of the first clamping means is approximately 80°; and,   the obtuse angle formed between the base leg of the first clamping means and the outer leg of the first clamping means is approximately 106°; and,   (b) the acute angle formed between the side wall of the filter frame and the base leg of the second clamping means is approximately 80°; and,   the obtuse angle formed between the base leg of the second clamping means and the outer leg of the second clamping means is approximately 106°.